By Matters India Reporter

Panaji, Sept 10, 2023: The archdiocese of Goa and Daman has condemned Catholics hurting the religious sentiments of followers of other religions through their public utterance.

“It is distressing to note that certain expressions used recently in public by some members of the Catholic Church may have hurt the religious sentiments of people of other religious traditions,” says a statement issued by the archdiocese to clarify the Church’s stand on other religions.

The September 9 statement points out that India “is blessed with a confluence of different religions, languages and cultures. This enriching diversity constitutes the very identity of our nation and every citizen has the sacred duty to value and respect others’ cultural heritage and religious integrity. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) is a value that is embedded in our ethos.”

Quoting Vatican II, the archdiocese clarifies that the Church teaches its members to acknowledge, preserve and promote the spiritual and moral truths found in the social life and culture of other religious traditions. “The Church’s apostolate of interreligious dialogue is “precisely meant to foster this,” it adds.

The statement reminds the Catholics that Pope Francis has reiterated the Church’s commitment to promote religious harmony and has cautioned against using religions to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism, and to refrain from using God’s name to justify acts of violence, injustice and oppression, which degrade the dignity of human life.

“In this regard we deeply regret that certain recent pronouncements made by some members of the Church have gone against the authentic spirit of inter-religious dialogue and reciprocal respect. We wish to assure that the Church leadership has taken appropriate action with regard to them and has also sternly warned them to avoid such utterances in the future,” the archdiocese explained.

The archdiocese also urged Catholics to “abide by the teachings of the Church and avoid saying or doing anything that could hurt the religious feelings of others.”

The statement was issued after a video appeared in social media where a priest questioned Catholics taking part in prayers of other religions. The unnamed priest was talking in Konkani language to a group of pilgrims from Goa at the Marian shrine in Vailankanni, Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile on September 8, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant warned the state’s people, including religious heads and priests, against making statements that hurt religious sentiments.

The chief minister said that “the government will act against” those criticizing other religions.

Reacting to the video from Vailankanni, Sawant said, “Nobody should criticize any religion. It is up to an individual to decide which god he will worship. Both Hindus and Christians should not make comments about any religion.”

Public Works Department Minister Nilesh Cabral said that Goa is a peaceful state. “Someone saying something somewhere (against any religion) is wrong. He said religious leaders should not use the religious platform to speak against other religions.

Revenue minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate too shared the chief minister’s views. The state government should act against those passing comments on other religions and disturbing religious harmony in the state, he said.

In August, Vasco police registered a case against Father Bolmax Pereira from the Chicalim church for his comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.